Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Thursday, April ] Television ~\oday REVIEW: IN OUR VIEW New film 'Package' NTA International Has Who's Where 11TOW that the perennial visit of V '"Uncle Oscar" has come and gone —and incidentally, doing a great deal of good for both motion pictures and television, regardless of what anyone intended— the time is approaching for the now equally perennial visit of his young feminine relative, "Emmy." The flowing, graceful lines of the young and attractive statuette will grace the mantels of a good many television performers, directors, writers, etc., ere a month has gone. On the night of Wednesday, May 6, the eleventh annual Emmy Awards of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will be made, via the NBC-TV network nationwide from 10 to 11:30 P.M., EDT. There will be millions looking and listening in, of course, as there were for the film awards, and the program is to originate from three locations, the Moulin Rouge supper club in Hollywood, the Ziegfeld theatre in New York, and the Grand Ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington. No less a personage than Vice-President Richard M. Nixon will participate from the latter city, making some of the presentations in the news and public affairs categories. Bob Hope will be among the masters of ceremonies, doubling in brass (no new thing for him), and just this weekJack Benny, Mike Nichols and Elaine May were added to the list of presenters and entertainers scheduled for the telecast presentation. There are indeed loads and loads of categories, and although it may seem at first glance to be an unwieldy number, closer examination of the category divisions indicates the necessity of maintaining the total as is, so diverse are the facets of presentation in the television medium. We personally, in Television Today, are happy indeed to see our friend Red Skelton nominated for his Red Skelton Show over CBS in the Best Comedy Series division, for Red it was who won top honors as Best Comedian in the annual Television TodayFame poll of television writers and editors across the country. Of course he has competition, but that is the staff of life to television as to other pursuits and endeavors, and it is competition which compels an alertness and sharpness which in turn means better results. Two other of our hardy perennial Fame winners, Perry Como and Dinah Shore, also were nominated in the appropriate categories. The Academy membership will cast its ballots secretly, of course, from A new package of motion pictures which includes 51 post-1948 features, is now available for television presentation, Harold Goldman, president of NTA International Inc., announced yesterday. Titled "NTA's International Package," the 64 films make up the first group of features released by NTA International since the new world-wide organization was formed five months ago. Included in the grouping are six Shirley Temple films made while the young star was at the peak of her career. Goldman also revealed that he is leaving shortly on a tour of motion picture centers throughout the world to meet with leading producers and film companies. Discussions will center on the possibilities of bringing first-rate film properties to television. 'White House Saga' Is Set on NBC Next Season "The White House Saga," a dramatic production created and written by Nanette Kutner, leading magazine writer, will be presented by the NBC Television Network during the 1960-61 season. This was announced by Robert F. Lewine, vicepresident, NBC Television Network Programs. "The White House Saga" will feature leading performers, live or on tape, with the episodes bound together by a poetic narration. Acquire 'Peacemaker' "The Peacemaker," a new Western series, has been acquired by Screen Gems and added to the schedule of new properties to be readied for production. William Sackheim, Screen Gems' executive producer, will develop "The Peacemaker" with a writer to be assigned immediately. among the almost 200 nominees divided among 42 categories, with the CBS and NBC networks almost even in total nominees, although CBS had a slight edge and ABC trailing, but showing considerably greater strength than in past years. The complete listing, too detailed for repeating here, is a thorough-going "who's who" and "what's what" of the past year in television, with glory and to spare for all, although only one in each group will take "Emmy" into his or her arms. May the best guy or gal win, but a congratulatory pat on the back to all who have been nominated for a good job, well done. — Charles S. Aaronson John M. Cooper, formerly managing editor for CBS Newsfilm, has been promoted to manager, it was announced by Sig Mickelson, general manager of CBS News and vice-president of CBS, Inc. In his new capacity, Cooper replaces Howard Kany who has left the CBS Newsfilm managership to assume a new position as director of international business relations for the CBS Television Stations Division. n Jack Berch has been appointed a senior vice-president in the TV division of Transfilm Inc., it was announced by William Miesegaes, president of the TV commercial and business film production company. Recently, Transfilm became part of the entertainment division of The Buckeye Corporation. □ Three administrative appointments and an expansion of the scope of WABC-TV's sales department were announced by Joseph Stamler, vicepresident and general manager of the flagship station. James E. Szabo, sales manager of the station, has been named general sales manager. Robert F. Adams, now serving as account executive, has been appointed assistant sales manager. Bill J. Scharton, currently employed by NBC Spot Sales in Chicago, moves to WABC-TV as national sales manager. Both Adams and Scharton report to Szabo. Two Bills on Toll-TV Filed in California Special to THE DAILY SAN FRANCISCO, April 15.-Two bills affecting proposed pay-TV operations in California have been introduced in the legislature at Sacramento by Assemblyman Louis Francis. The first would prohibit any payto-view program which is being broadcast free in the state at the same time. The second bill provides that the state Public Utilities Commission be given authority to franchise and regulate toll-TV throughout the state. Senate Educational-TV Bill Asks $50,000,000 From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, April 15. The Senate has passed a bill to provide $50,000,000 of Federal funds for educational television. The bill, which now goes to the House, would permit grants up to $1,000,000 for each state to foster educational TV stations. The Administration is opposed to the measure. The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery Guggenheim — U.A. Hartford, Bank holdups of varied s: mensions and approaches loil held the fascinated eye of sere! ers, and in the case of this <:] heim Associates release, th premise is admirably retaineo face of illogically-conceived «f Moreover, the inferred attachn from wholesome, evident amo/ principals, relegates "The G Louis Bank Robbery" to adult status. Exploitation activity cated, certainly, and a c stressing action rather than i would be recommended to ex on all counts. Richard Heffron's screenpl produced by Charles Guggenb latter sharing directorial crec John Stix. Steve McQueen, Clarke, Crahan Denton, Mo Carthy and James Dukas are t characters. As the title specifies, the locale is the Missouri metrop aim of four men to hold up From the point of initial encov course, it's a downright forego elusion that the quartet will sec survive in one manner or anotl( the subsequent footage sees tliii standing complete. McQueen, youngest of the has a yearning for Miss McCar ter of another of the participai she's killed off for her allegec ence on cancelling the bank vi The police speed to the scene the bandits can make their ant: breakaway. One hoodlum is kil other commits suicide, McQue self is wounded and captured remaining outlaw, escaping, is hended. Running time, 86 minutes, classification. Release, in Febrv1 : Six Officers Named j (Continued from page 1 Samuel P. Norton, vice-presi< charge of legal and business ; David J. Melamed, vice-presf charge of administration; Geo Gould, vice-president in chf television broadcast facilities, continues as president of NTA studios); Burton I. Lippman,' ant treasurer and assistant set ( Lippman remains as contro NTA.) ABC Vending Annu Revenues $64,597. ABC Vending Corp. and II aries have reported total ojj! revenues of $64,597,461 for t ended Dec. 28, 1958. Revenue company for the previous ye $56,006,937. Net income for 1958 was ! 371, or $1.67 per share, as co with $1,429,222, or $1.27 pei' in 1957.